Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #685
Published April 2009
Frequency monthly
Cover Price 2.99 USD
Pages 36
Editing Matt Idelson; Wil Moss (assistant editor)
Notes This issue should be Green Shield Continuity #15 (but isn't marked), and went on sale 2009-02-25 (on time). It also features the "Origins and Omens" promotion on the cover, shared with other April 2009 titles.

Cover Details

Characters Superman; Jonathan Kent
Genre Superhero
Pencils Alex Ross (painted)
Inks Alex Ross (painted)
Colors Alex Ross (painted)
Letters typeset

18 page Superman story "The Long Goodbye"

Characters Superman; Mon-El; Lois Lane; Chris Kent [Lor-Zod] (photo); The Guardian [Jim Harper clone] (cameo); Tellus (cameo, flashback); Riot (cameo, flashback); Atomic Skull (cameo, flashback); Martha Kent; Jonathan Kent (cameo, flashback); Krypto (cameo); Steel (cameo); Control [Rachel; Chameleon Boy] (cameo); Jimmy Olsen (cameo)
Synopsis Superman and Lois are in the Fortress, as Superman releases Mon-El from the Phantom Zone, as it is being destroyed. But Mon-El is still dying from lead poisoning; Superman has to find a solution now. He zooms to his lab to see what he can think of, when he spots a vial with a Legion symbol on it that says "Mon-El Drink me". Even though Superman has never seen it before, he goes ahead and gives it to Mon-El, who recovers, apparently cured. Later, Superman and Lois discuss the situations, including New Krypton. The Guardian remembers back to meeting Tellus, and decides to do something about it. Superman talks to both his foster mother and Lois about what he has decided to do next: Leave Earth temporarily for New Krypton, both to help the people there and to keep an eye on Zod. He arranges for Mon-El, Steel, the Guardian, and Jimmy Olsen to handle things while he's gone.
Genre Superhero
Script James Robinson
Pencils Javier Pina
Inks Javier Pina
Colors Hi-Fi
Letters John J. Hill
Notes Story continued from Supergirl (DC, 2005 series) #38, and continues in Superman: World of New Krypton (DC, 2009 series) #1.

6 page Mon-El story "Origins & Omens"

Characters Mon-El; Scar of Oa; Martha Kent; Sandra; Krypto (cameo); Clark Kent (flashback, cameo); Atlas (cameo); Billi Harper (cameo); Ion [Sodam Yat] (cameo); The Guardian [Jim Harper clone] (cameo); Daxam
Synopsis Scar of Oa looks in on Mon-El and his history and future. Mon-El visits Martha Kent, whom he met long ago before the Phantom Zone. He asks for help in blending in on Earth, as Martha helped Clark do that. They kick around a few ideas, and for a name, she suggests one. Later, as Mon-El meets his new neighbor, he introduces himself as Jonathan Kent from London. Scar then sees some future events for Mon-El.
Genre Superhero
Script James Robinson
Pencils Pablo Raimondi
Inks Pablo Raimondi
Colors Hi-Fi
Letters John J. Hill
Notes The Kryptonese text on page 5 is translated as "SON OF JOR-EL".

1 page DC Nation promo (ad from the publisher) "Okay, I have to make this DC Nation a quick one."] [February 25, 2009

Script Dan Didio
Letters Typeset
Notes Dan discusses his crazy week in meetings about Blackest Night and Superman for 2009, and shows art from an upcoming Superman issue. Ad for Superman #686. Appears on page 34 in this issue.

1 page promo (ad from the publisher) "House Advertisement"

Notes House ad for: Batman: Battle for the Cowl. Appears on the tops of pages 18 and 19 in this issue.

9 page advertisement "Ads"

Notes Total of 9 one-page ads for: Halo Wars (video game, Microsoft Game Studios), got milk? with Chris Brown (milk, America's Milk Processors), Midtown Comics (comic store), abovetheinfluence (Partnership for a Drug-Free America), Dragonball Z Season Eight/Super Android 13/Dragon Ball GT Season Two (DVD, Funimation Entertainment), Superman/Batman Heroes United (cell phone game, glu), WonderCon (comic convention, Comic Con International), Tom Clancy's H-A-W-X (video game, Ubisoft), and Coraline The Game (video game, D3Publisher). Appear in various places in this issue.